Hey everyone!
No depressing news on this blog tonight!! This part of the rollercoaster is over!! Praise God, literally!
Tonight we learned that our home study glitches are going to be fixed within a week and sent to immigration to be on the safe side. Also, our adoption specialist submitted the necessary paperwork we had been waiting for, and today we received news that our dossier is LID-- logged in dossier!!!!! For those new to adoption lingo, this is HUGE news!! With all the paperwork in and with an LID, we should soon have our special needs conference call with the China team at Bethany and be eligible for matching-- hopefully starting in September!! We also have a neat history of matching birthday dates in our family, and though this isn't a birthday, we will still always remember that we had our LID on my mother-in-law, Marilyn's, birthday. :)
Also, we learned that we received a grant from the Sparrow Fund which will cover the cost of a medical review of our child's health profile. Things are definitely looking up. What a difference a week can make.
Thank you all for all the prayers, chats, cards, etc. They have encouraged us more than you could possibly know. God's timing is everything, and we know He'll wait for the right time to match us with our little one, too. The match could be next month or a year from next month, but hopefully sooner rather than later. Please keep praying for us and our little one as we await the match!! Time to celebrate!!!!! :)
Thank you, everyone, for your support! We love you!!
Blessings,
Jenn --and I speak for Howie, too. :)
Thursday, August 15, 2013
Friday, August 9, 2013
DTC: Good news, bad news
This has been a crazy week in the journey of adoption. Let me preface this by saying that Bethany is a great agency, but because of a home study that had lots of mistakes by our adoption specialist (some that weren't found by us until later), we've been on quite a ride.
At the start of the week, we received a document from our specialist that we had originally asked for two months ago. And here began another problem. The document stated our marriage date as Sept. 19, 2010-- not Sept. 18, 2010 as is stated on our marriage certificate. (All documents and facts have to match for a dossier, we have been told.) I immediately thought, "Oh, I hope this is just a typo, but I better check the home study." Yeah... Sept. 19 on the home study document, too. This was not good-- not at this stage in the process. "But," our specialist said optimistically, "at least your dossier isn't in China yet. Then it could get really complicated."
Well, today it got complicated. We told the regional office several times that there had been a mistake in the home study, hoping that if our specialist had to correct it, it would be corrected before it left the states. However, we never heard a reply, which was understandable, since this was a busy "matching" week for the China team.
Anyway, today, after no response about the mistakes, we saw the message "DTC-- Your dossier was sent to China today." How I had longed to hear those words just a week ago, but after what my specialist said, I said, "Noooo-- not yet!!" Frantically, even though I was at school for our teacher day, I tried calling two different numbers at the regional office while Howie, who was off to get a haircut, called our adoption specialist who had seen the news just before we had. She, too, sent the emails, made the calls, etc.
Finally, a couple hours later, just before parents and students would come for "Meet the Teacher Night" at my school, I received a call from the regional office. This woman-- I'll call her Jane-- told me that they had read all the previous posts but that they decided it was necessary to send the documents onto China (with the first stop being the Bethany office in China). Why it was so necessary to send them off immediately, I didn't ask. I figured at this point, it was better not to know. Jane told me that she was sure our specialist would be busy preparing our changed documents for immigration. I thought, "Oh no... not immigration again!" This was the place that had made us wait about two months-- most of the summer-- to process our original home study. And my response was, "Our adoption specialist doesn't know what she's supposed to do!" That's why she was asking them on the portal earlier in the week. My cell disconnected just after I learned that this might or might not cost additional money-- depending on what immigration thought about the changes-- and that Jane might be able to contact our specialist's supervisor to let her know what needed to happen.
Then it was Meet the Teacher Night-- a small break from the chaos to see some old students and meet some new ones.
While cooking dinner, Howie made a call to our specialist who had made contact with Jane shortly after my talk with her. Jane told her what to do, and our specialist is going to talk with her supervisor about whether or not they really need to run these minor changes past immigration again. She also told Howie that we would likely have to re-file immigration in another 14 months or so when our immigration approval expires. She said most people even in the special needs program in China have to do this. Anyway, she said we might just be able to update the changes then-- at least we think that's what she said. We're going to clarify tomorrow in writing. I'm hoping we don't have to wait another 14 months, especially since our specialist had originally told us that she was hopeful we would have our child within a year of our homestudy beginning, which began sometime in February. We already know that won't happen now due to all the home study corrections that had to be made earlier and then the long wait for immigration. That of course will cost more time and more money.
The good news in all of this is that Jane mentioned to our specialist that she didn't think it would delay the process that much. So... right now, we are once again in wait mode to see whether or not things have to go through immigration again and how long it will take to get LID (logged in dossier in China), which would make us eligible for a match.
I hesitated to write this blog, because I hate to dwell on the negatives of the adoption process. All the bumps and rollercoaster rides will be worth it in the end. Still, it's a reality for us right now and helps me to write about it. I still believe that with God, nothing is impossible. But it doesn't mean that it hurts any less when things don't go as I originally thought they would.
I liked the entry on one of our favorite adoption sites, Show Hope, tonight. At the end, it said, "Are you in the middle of an adoption process that seems to drag on forever? Are you struggling to trust the Lord while you wait? Be encouraged! Our Almighty Father hears every prayer you utter and is able to attend to their every need, providing people, songs, and sunlight to sustain your little one. Take heart! He hears your prayers."
Please continue to pray for our little one and us as we continue on our journey and he continues on his wait.
Blessings,
Jennifer
At the start of the week, we received a document from our specialist that we had originally asked for two months ago. And here began another problem. The document stated our marriage date as Sept. 19, 2010-- not Sept. 18, 2010 as is stated on our marriage certificate. (All documents and facts have to match for a dossier, we have been told.) I immediately thought, "Oh, I hope this is just a typo, but I better check the home study." Yeah... Sept. 19 on the home study document, too. This was not good-- not at this stage in the process. "But," our specialist said optimistically, "at least your dossier isn't in China yet. Then it could get really complicated."
Well, today it got complicated. We told the regional office several times that there had been a mistake in the home study, hoping that if our specialist had to correct it, it would be corrected before it left the states. However, we never heard a reply, which was understandable, since this was a busy "matching" week for the China team.
Anyway, today, after no response about the mistakes, we saw the message "DTC-- Your dossier was sent to China today." How I had longed to hear those words just a week ago, but after what my specialist said, I said, "Noooo-- not yet!!" Frantically, even though I was at school for our teacher day, I tried calling two different numbers at the regional office while Howie, who was off to get a haircut, called our adoption specialist who had seen the news just before we had. She, too, sent the emails, made the calls, etc.
Finally, a couple hours later, just before parents and students would come for "Meet the Teacher Night" at my school, I received a call from the regional office. This woman-- I'll call her Jane-- told me that they had read all the previous posts but that they decided it was necessary to send the documents onto China (with the first stop being the Bethany office in China). Why it was so necessary to send them off immediately, I didn't ask. I figured at this point, it was better not to know. Jane told me that she was sure our specialist would be busy preparing our changed documents for immigration. I thought, "Oh no... not immigration again!" This was the place that had made us wait about two months-- most of the summer-- to process our original home study. And my response was, "Our adoption specialist doesn't know what she's supposed to do!" That's why she was asking them on the portal earlier in the week. My cell disconnected just after I learned that this might or might not cost additional money-- depending on what immigration thought about the changes-- and that Jane might be able to contact our specialist's supervisor to let her know what needed to happen.
Then it was Meet the Teacher Night-- a small break from the chaos to see some old students and meet some new ones.
While cooking dinner, Howie made a call to our specialist who had made contact with Jane shortly after my talk with her. Jane told her what to do, and our specialist is going to talk with her supervisor about whether or not they really need to run these minor changes past immigration again. She also told Howie that we would likely have to re-file immigration in another 14 months or so when our immigration approval expires. She said most people even in the special needs program in China have to do this. Anyway, she said we might just be able to update the changes then-- at least we think that's what she said. We're going to clarify tomorrow in writing. I'm hoping we don't have to wait another 14 months, especially since our specialist had originally told us that she was hopeful we would have our child within a year of our homestudy beginning, which began sometime in February. We already know that won't happen now due to all the home study corrections that had to be made earlier and then the long wait for immigration. That of course will cost more time and more money.
The good news in all of this is that Jane mentioned to our specialist that she didn't think it would delay the process that much. So... right now, we are once again in wait mode to see whether or not things have to go through immigration again and how long it will take to get LID (logged in dossier in China), which would make us eligible for a match.
I hesitated to write this blog, because I hate to dwell on the negatives of the adoption process. All the bumps and rollercoaster rides will be worth it in the end. Still, it's a reality for us right now and helps me to write about it. I still believe that with God, nothing is impossible. But it doesn't mean that it hurts any less when things don't go as I originally thought they would.
I liked the entry on one of our favorite adoption sites, Show Hope, tonight. At the end, it said, "Are you in the middle of an adoption process that seems to drag on forever? Are you struggling to trust the Lord while you wait? Be encouraged! Our Almighty Father hears every prayer you utter and is able to attend to their every need, providing people, songs, and sunlight to sustain your little one. Take heart! He hears your prayers."
Please continue to pray for our little one and us as we continue on our journey and he continues on his wait.
Blessings,
Jennifer
Thursday, August 1, 2013
Time to Relax and Prepare for School
Today is the day that the Chinese Consulate in the US has to approve our soon-to-expire dossier documents-- or else we'll be delayed the four months it will take to receive Howie's birth certificates from PA, have those state sealed in PA, and then sent back to the Consulate. Yes, that's right. Birth certificates can expire. How strange is that?
Anyway, we're going to assume that everything will be taken care of, and our dossier specialist at our agency told us that we can take a break from paperwork (aside from grants) at the moment. Once these documents arrive back to the regional agency, altogether, they will be sent to China, which is called DTC in the adoption world-- dossier to China. Right after that, we'll receive a call from the Special Needs Coordinator who will ask us detailed questions about the special needs to which we are open. Shortly after that, we will be LID (logged in dossier), which means we will be eligible for matches. Slowly, but surely, we're getting there! We're hoping that the wait for a match doesn't take long, but there's no telling. Everything depends on the age we're willing to accept, the special needs that are available, and the list that China gives our agency once a month. The angel Gabriel, our son's namesake, stated, "With God, nothing is impossible," so we'll focus on that and trust that we are matched when the time is right.
For now, the break is good, because the summer is quickly coming to an end, and it's time to prepare for school! Howie is already attending meetings, and I'm busy gathering together material to teach my newest class: ninth grade Honors English. The nice part is that I know my honors kids already, since I had them last year as seventh graders (who did both seventh and eighth grade work). Then, school will be in session, which will help our waiting moments pass more quickly, since we'll have plenty of work to keep us busy. I'm welcoming that, actually-- at least for now.
Well, that's the update for this week! I'll continue to keep you posted as the process moves along. Thanks to everyone who is praying for us. I think we're starting to develop a little bit of patience. :)
Jennifer
Anyway, we're going to assume that everything will be taken care of, and our dossier specialist at our agency told us that we can take a break from paperwork (aside from grants) at the moment. Once these documents arrive back to the regional agency, altogether, they will be sent to China, which is called DTC in the adoption world-- dossier to China. Right after that, we'll receive a call from the Special Needs Coordinator who will ask us detailed questions about the special needs to which we are open. Shortly after that, we will be LID (logged in dossier), which means we will be eligible for matches. Slowly, but surely, we're getting there! We're hoping that the wait for a match doesn't take long, but there's no telling. Everything depends on the age we're willing to accept, the special needs that are available, and the list that China gives our agency once a month. The angel Gabriel, our son's namesake, stated, "With God, nothing is impossible," so we'll focus on that and trust that we are matched when the time is right.
For now, the break is good, because the summer is quickly coming to an end, and it's time to prepare for school! Howie is already attending meetings, and I'm busy gathering together material to teach my newest class: ninth grade Honors English. The nice part is that I know my honors kids already, since I had them last year as seventh graders (who did both seventh and eighth grade work). Then, school will be in session, which will help our waiting moments pass more quickly, since we'll have plenty of work to keep us busy. I'm welcoming that, actually-- at least for now.
Well, that's the update for this week! I'll continue to keep you posted as the process moves along. Thanks to everyone who is praying for us. I think we're starting to develop a little bit of patience. :)
Jennifer
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